Virtual Worldcon/Hugo roundup, bits of reading roundup, and Good Omens

Aug 19, 2019 23:32

Semi-intentionally and semi-just-because, I ended up sort of de facto having a ( virtual Worldcon weekend )

hugo homework, television, good omens, a: catherynne valente, worldcon, a: charles stross

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Comments 35

ani_mama August 20 2019, 22:53:26 UTC
The Aziraphale and Crowley actors did not match my mental image of them either, but they grew on me quickly. I have been a book fan for decades, so all this new fandom craze is quite bewildering but not unwelcome.

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hamsterwoman August 21 2019, 16:00:10 UTC
The Aziraphale and Crowley actors did not match my mental image of them either, but they grew on me quickly.

Yeah, I had really the same experience -- they inhabited the roles so well, I was quickly sold.

I've not dipped into the new fandom myself, but L keeps bringing me memes from Tumblr. And it's a neat but also bewildering feeling to see something you've been a fan of for a while suddenly explode -- I saw that happen with Game of Thrones, and also with LotR 20 years ago.

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bearshorty August 22 2019, 00:31:40 UTC

I was also thrilled to see the short story win as the Witch story was my favorite.  And disappointed that Spinning Silver didn't win. But I was mostly expecting Calculating Stars to take it. Still, it would have been nice as I still think Spinning Silver was a much better book.

I've seen two episodes of Good Omens so far and loved them. I just reread the book but the differences don't bother me since I'm usually pretty good in enjoying each medium separately.  I too was surprised just how much more I'm interested in Aziraphale here - Michael Sheen is fabulous. He won me over with his expression when Crowley helped him clear his coat of paint. Still not sold on Adam and Anathema but I like the rest of casting.

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hamsterwoman August 22 2019, 00:51:53 UTC
I'm not surprised Calculating Stars won -- after all, it won the Nebula also -- and I did like the book, and had it ranked second on my ballot, but I do wish Spinning Silver had pulled it off. I'm not even sure it's a BETTER book, objectively, but it's definitely a book that touched me more and stuck with me more, and made me want to rec it to people. It means more to me, for sure.

Michael Sheen is great as Aziraphale! Between that and the script giving him a bit more to do (I feel like), I was really able to enjoy both A and Crowley as co-leads.

Still not sold on Adam and Anathema but I like the rest of casting.

Yeah... I never warmed up to Anathema, and I feel like I liked Adam less in later episodes than in the first couple, so I wouldn't be surprised if those two continued not working for you...

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q99 August 22 2019, 05:50:25 UTC
I'll admit to not rooting for Monstress purely on grounds it'd already won more than once and I was hoping for variety.

I'm not up on the works in most of the categories outside comics, Ao3, and movies, and with movies, well, it was never not going to be Spider-verse.

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hamsterwoman August 22 2019, 06:40:08 UTC
purely on grounds it'd already won more than once and I was hoping for variety

Yeah, I know what you mean -- I felt that way when the Broken Earth trilogy kept winning successive Hugos. Brilliant series, the individual books were pretty great, but I would have preferred to spread the awards around.

and with movies, well, it was never not going to be Spider-verse.

That seemed like a pretty sure bet, yeah. Even though, before Spider-verse came along, I would've said the same of Black Panther.

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qwentoozla August 23 2019, 06:24:24 UTC
I'm glad you and L enjoyed Good Omens! I saw quite a few people saying they thought there was too much narration and it was intrusive or unnecessary or something, but I thought it was such a good move to have a narrator. I was so glad to get those parts of the book that couldn't have been in the show otherwise.

I was OK with Anathema but didn't love her, but I did think Jack Whitehall made a good Newt. Of course, Crowley and Aziraphale were the best! I know what you mean about Aziraphale. He's just so sweet and lovable and adorable in the show, which he wasn't as much in the book. I was sold on their casting as soon as I heard it (although they weren't what I would have imagined either), so I'm glad they lived up to my expectations!

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hamsterwoman August 23 2019, 17:09:19 UTC
I saw quite a few people saying they thought there was too much narration and it was intrusive or unnecessary or something,

Whaaaat. Clearly not book fans! (Also, heh, I forgot to mention in my write-up, L and I were talking about the narrator/Voice of God afterwards, and L said that while she liked the fact that God spoke with a female voice in this movie, she would've really liked to have David Attenborough do God's narration. And I said, "So god talking about humans and angels would be like a nature documentary?" and she said, exactly. XP)

But, yeah, this was such a great call, and was able to keep a lot of my favorite lines!

I did like Newt! And as for Aziraphale, Michael Sheen looks so different out of costume than in (both L and I thought) that when he was first cast, I was puzzled, but of course we both ended up loving him.

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qwentoozla August 24 2019, 04:28:11 UTC
Whaaaat. Clearly not book fans!

I know! I was really surprised to see people saying that.

I love the David Attenborough concept. XD

Michael Sheen does look radically different out of costume!

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thistle_chaser August 25 2019, 03:00:29 UTC
Yay I'm glad you enjoyed the miniseries! I haven't read the book yet, but it's on my Kindle now. Soon!

I was amused at spotting that Heaven looks like an Apple Store. I missed it at the time, but can see it now.

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hamsterwoman March 18 2020, 19:04:25 UTC
Huh! Apparently I missed commenting on this way back when, oops!

I now thing about GO!Heaven every time I pass the Apple store at our local mall :D

(If you've read Good Omens meanwhile, i hope you enjoyed it!)

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thistle_chaser March 18 2020, 19:40:54 UTC
I started Good Omens, but it was too soon after I watched the series. I felt like it was the same story word for word, so I put it aside for a while. Once some time has passed, then I'll pick it up again.

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